Lombard makes the right decision as he makes Irish team for Paris

CATHAL LOMBARD claimed his place on the Irish team for next month’s world championships in Paris with a spectacular performance at the British Milers Club meet in Watford at the weekend, finishing fourth in the 10,000m in 28:05.27 — comfortably inside the B standard of 28:06.00.

It was a huge run by the 27-year-old Leevale runner who had faced something of a dilemma all week. After running 13:39.54 for 5,000m two weeks earlier, he would have been one of the star attractions at the BUPA Ireland Cork City Sports on Saturday.

"I obviously wanted to compete before the home crowd at The Mardyke and it was a difficult decision for me to have to make," he admitted. "I eventually opted for Watford and thankfully I made the right decision.